A gas station in Los Angeles known for setting its fuel prices above every other pump in the vicinity is charging a whopping $8.71 per gallon for regular gasoline.
It's obvious to any American who owns a vehicle that gas prices have skyrocketed since the start of President Donald Trump and Israel's war with Iran more than three weeks ago. The nation’s average price is $3.98, up 83 cents from a year ago.
The L.A. gas station — a Chevron located at the corner of Alameda Street and East Cesar Chavez — has become a magnet for reporters and photographers whenever fuel prices spike. Everyone expects the station to have high prices, but its nearly $9 per gallon listing has even shocked drivers anticipating a pricey trip to the pump.
“I assumed it would be really high prices given what’s going on in the world,” one visitor told the LA Times. “But it’s really expensive. That’s the most I’ve paid for as long as I can remember.”
The average price of a gallon gas in California last week was around $5.37, up approximately 82 cents over the previous month, according to AAA data. In the LA area it was a little higher — $5.72 per gallon — meaning the infamous Chevron was marking up its price by nearly $3.
California typically has some of the highest gas prices in the nation with extra tax and state regulations driving up the price.
Even with the sky-high price, the station's lot was reportedly full of cars waiting to fill up, according to the LA Times.
AAA spokesperson Kandace Redd told the paper that people tend to choose the most convenient gas station when they refuel rather than hunting around for the best price, noting that "location is key." Sometimes its not even about convenience, but necessity.
One man, Keith Moore, lamented to the paper that he occasionally doesn't have alternatives when he needs a top-off.
“I hate coming here. But sometimes I have no choice,” he said.
The gas station is owned by Hawk H Environmental Corp. The Independent has requested comment.
Charles Khalil, who owns a Mobil gas station that is also known for its high prices, told the paper that station operators who set prices higher are just responding to global events the same way customers are.
According to Khalil, when global events cause disruptions to the fuel market, some station owners expect drivers to start conserving fuel. That means less buying, and less money in their pockets. As a result, some owners increase their prices to offset what they assume they'll lose in the coming weeks or months.
Fuel costs may continue to rise, and absolutely will if Iran does opt to fully shut down the Strait of Hormuz. An analysis by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research predicts that — should Iran close the Strait — gas prices would jump to $110 per barrel before the end of the month, the national average gas price would peak around $4.36 per gallon in May.
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